Patents Issued in May 1, 2018
  • Patent number: 9958320
    Abstract: The apparatus for selectively transmitting the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation within a predefined wavelength range is provided with a carrier (115), a pinhole diaphragm which is arranged above the carrier (115) and is made of a material that is substantially impermeable to the radiation of interest, wherein the pinhole diaphragm has at least one radiation passage opening with a size for allowing through radiation at a wavelength which is less than or equal to a predefinable upper limit wavelength, and an electrically insulating and optically transparent dielectric layer (103) which is formed on the carrier (115) inside the radiation passage opening and extends, in a manner adjoining the radiation passage opening, between the carrier (115) and at least one section below the pinhole diaphragm. The dielectric layer (103) has a thickness which is less than or equal to half a predefinable lower limit wavelength which is less than the upper limit wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Elmos Semiconductor AG
    Inventors: Bernd Burchard, Frank Kleinschmidt, Jesco Möller
  • Patent number: 9958321
    Abstract: A transverse optical transmission probe having a probe body and a probe tip. The probe use optical fibers to both transmit radiation from an instrument to the probe tip and to return the sample affected radiation to the instrument. The fibers are in parallel and contained in the probe body. The probe tip includes two optical elements that protrude into the sample and are configured to define a sample gap so that incident radiation pass through the sample in a direction transverse to the axis to the probe and eventually reaches the receiving fiber. Each of the optical elements may be formed from a single piece of material or may be a composite formed by adhering two or more pieces of material together. One or more lensed surfaces may be used to cause the end of the transmitting fiber to be imaged on the end of the receiving fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: HELLMA HOLDING GMBH
    Inventors: Walter M. Doyle, Norman A. Jennings
  • Patent number: 9958322
    Abstract: A device for a device for preventing the intensity reduction of an optical signal, an optical emission spectrometer, an optical instrument, and a mass spectrometer including the same are provided. The device for preventing the intensity reduction includes a shielding filter which has a mesh structure capable of blocking RF electromagnetic waves radiated from a plasma field for a wafer processing, is installed in the front of an optical window of an optical emission spectrometer for measuring the plasma field from an emission spectrum image of the plasma field, and collects charging particles passing through the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION YONSEI UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Jae Won Hahn
  • Patent number: 9958324
    Abstract: An enclosed benchtop Raman spectrometry device, systems, methods, and techniques related thereto are disclosed. A benchtop Raman spectrometer can comprise an enclosure enclosing a probe and sample. In an embodiment, a compliance component can determine concurrent satisfaction of a group of compliance rules. The compliance rules can relate to contact between the probe and sample, environmental conditions within the enclosure, illumination conditions within the enclosure, an operation state of a viewport allowing direct viewing of a sample-probe interface, etc. While concurrent satisfaction is determined, the release of optical energy for interrogation of the sample via the probe can be enabled. In an embodiment, the probe can comprise a spherical optical element, e.g., a BallProbe®, which can be brought into contact with the sample to perform Raman spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: MarqMetrix Inc.
    Inventors: Brian James Marquardt, John Scott Van Vuren, Giora Proskurowski
  • Patent number: 9958325
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of optical systems. The envisaged multi-scan optical system is compact and stable. The system comprises an excitation source, a hydra fiber cable, a wavelength selector, an optical element, and a detector. The excitation source is configured to emit composite light. The hydra fiber cable has a head and a plurality of tentacles, and is configured to receive the composite light via a second lens. The plurality of tentacles is configured to emit the composite light towards the wavelength selector which includes a plurality of optical slits (s1-s8) and a plurality of shutters. The wavelength selector is configured to selectively collect and filter the composite light directed by a first lens and the plurality of tentacles by means of the plurality of shutters. The detector is configured to detect the plurality of spectral line scans reflected by the optical element for spectrometric analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Metal Power Analytical (I) Pvt. Ltd.
    Inventor: Priyadarshan Divyadarshan Pant
  • Patent number: 9958326
    Abstract: A spectrometer and a spectrometer module are provided. The spectrometer includes a bandpass filter including a photonic crystal layer having a reflection wavelength or a transmission wavelength that varies based on an electrical stimulation, the bandpass filter being configured to filter light. The spectrometer further includes a photodetector configured to detect the filtered light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jung Mok Bae
  • Patent number: 9958327
    Abstract: The effective spot size of a spectroscopic metrology device is reduced through deconvolution of a measurement spectra set acquired from a measurement target combined with a training spectra set obtained from a training target. The measurement spectra set may be obtained using sparse sampling of a grid scan of a measurement target. The training spectra set is obtained from a grid scan of a training target that is similar to the measurement target. The training spectra set and the measurement spectra set include spectra from different grid nodes. Deconvolution of the measurement spectra and the training spectra sets produces an estimated spectrum for the measurement target that is an estimate of a spectrum from the measurement target produced with incident light having an effective spot size that is smaller than the actual spot size. One or more characteristics of the measurement target may then be determined using the estimated spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Nanometrics Incorporated
    Inventors: Amit Shachaf, Pedro Vagos, Michael Elad
  • Patent number: 9958328
    Abstract: Devices image radiation from a scene that includes two materials with spectral characteristics in two different wavelength regions. A lens forms an image of the scene on a detector that includes an array of elements. A filtering arrangement integrated with the detector allows half of the detector elements to detect radiation in one of the wavelength regions and the other half of the detector elements to detect radiation in the other wavelength region. Each detector element can be constructed from two different sub-elements that are sensitive to radiation in one of the respective wavelength regions. A blackbody source positioned within the devices reduces drift induced by changes to the environment surrounding the devices. The blackbody source projects radiation onto a region of the detector that does not receive radiation from the scene. Pixel signals produced from the scene radiation are modified based on pixel signals produced from the blackbody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: CI SYSTEMS (ISRAEL) LTD.
    Inventors: Dario Cabib, Amir Gil, Moshe Lavi, Liviu Singher
  • Patent number: 9958329
    Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric switch capable of accurately detecting even such a workpiece where a tint changes within the same workpiece, while preventing erroneous detection. The photoelectric switch includes: a light projecting unit; a light receiving unit; a coincidence degree calculating unit for comparing the acquired color information with a reference color to calculate a coincidence degree of both of the color information. When the color information is newly acquired, a detection signal generating unit compares, with a detection determination threshold, the highest coincidence degree of coincidence degrees calculated by respectively comparing the color information newly acquired, with the two or more reference colors, to perform workpiece determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Tsukigi
  • Patent number: 9958330
    Abstract: A sensor to detect information on a subject by using an electromagnetic wave includes a transmitting unit having a generating element and a first antenna, a polarization converting unit, and a receiving unit having a second antenna and a detecting device. The generating element generates an electromagnetic wave, and the first antenna emits the electromagnetic wave generated by the generating element as first polarization. The polarization converting unit converts the first polarization into second polarization by changing a polarization direction of the first polarization. The second antenna receives the second polarization, and the detecting device detects the electromagnetic wave received by the second antenna. The transmitting unit and the receiving unit are disposed on the same substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Koyama, Toshihiko Ouchi
  • Patent number: 9958332
    Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for bolometer circuits and related methods for thermal imaging in a difference domain, where each pixel value represents a difference in incident IR radiation intensity between adjacent bolometers. For example, a bolometer circuit may include an array of bolometers each configured to generate a pixel signal in response to a bias and incident infrared radiation. Each column of the bolometer array may comprise an amplifier, a first plurality of switches each configured to selectively provide a supply voltage to a respective one of bolometers of the each column, a second plurality of switches each configured to selectively route a difference of the pixel signals of a respective adjacent pair of the bolometers of the each column to an input of the amplifier, and a third plurality of switches configured to selectively provide a common voltage to a respective one of the bolometers of the each column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian B. Simolon, Naseem Y. Aziz, Nicholas Högasten
  • Patent number: 9958333
    Abstract: A sensor tag (10) includes a crystal vibrator (110) and an antenna (102). The antenna (102) is composed of a radiating conductor (121) and connection conductors (122). A crystal vibrator (110) is mounted on land conductors (120) provided at an end portion of the connection conductors (122) on the opposite side to the antenna (121). The antenna (102) is formed in a shape such that an amount of shift (?F) of a radiation frequency of the sensor tag (10) falls within an acceptable range in accordance with a resonant frequency (Fxs) and an equivalent inductance (Lxs) of the crystal vibrator (110) and a self-resonant frequency (Fant) and an equivalent inductance (Lant) of the antenna (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9958334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a high temperature sensor, in particular a high temperature sensor for measuring the exhaust gas temperature of motor vehicles, comprising a sensor element and a protective tube which at least partially surrounds the sensor element. Said protective tube is closed on the hot side of the high temperature sensor by a shaping method, in particular molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TESONA GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Heiko Lantzsch
  • Patent number: 9958335
    Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature probe comprising two first ceramic plates, a second ceramic plate arranged between the first ceramic plates, and two third ceramic plates. Each of the two first ceramic plates comprises an opening in each in which an NTC sensor element is arranged. An electrode is arranged between the second ceramic plate and each of the first ceramic plates. The first and the second ceramic plates are arranged between the two third ceramic plates. An electrode is arranged between each third ceramic plate and a first ceramic plate. Each electrode electrically contacts an NTC sensor element. Each NTC sensor element is enclosed by ceramic plates. The first, the second and the third ceramic plates and the NTC sensor elements are sintered to form a ceramic body. The invention further relates to a method for producing a temperature probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Jan Ihle, Gerald Kloiber
  • Patent number: 9958336
    Abstract: The invention relates to a temperature probe which comprises a functional ceramic probe element and a ceramic housing. The probe element is mounted in the ceramic housing so that at a face of the probe element has direct and form-fitting contact with the ceramic housing. The invention further relates to a method for producing a temperature probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Jan Ihle, Gerald Kloiber
  • Patent number: 9958337
    Abstract: A protective tube device can protect a temperature sensor against contact with a fluid, and has a distal end containing the temperature sensor and has an outer wall provided for contact with the fluid, and a proximal end which is connected to the temperature sensor by electric lines and is intended for arrangement outside the fluid, wherein, on the outer wall of the distal end, an elastic membrane closes off a resultantly defined pressure transmission fluid reservoir in a fluid-impermeable manner, the pressure transmission fluid reservoir being connected fluidically by a fluid channel running within the protective tube device to a pressure sensor arranged in the proximal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Guruprasad Sosale, Andrea Pozzi, Paul Szasz, Thomas Scholl, Wilhelm Daake
  • Patent number: 9958338
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermocouple for sensing the temperature at a measurement point, comprising a first conductor that has a first end and a first terminal, and a second conductor that has a second end and a second terminal. The first end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor are in electric contact with one another at the measurement point, while the first terminal of the first conductor and the second terminal of the second conductor can each be connected to a terminal line. The first conductor and the second conductor are applied to a substrate using thick-film technology, the first end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor overlapping in at least some sections at the measurement point. A hot runner nozzle has a heater and a thermocouple according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GUENTHER Heisskanaltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Guenther, Siegrid Sommer, Stefan Sommer, Frédéric Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 9958339
    Abstract: Temperature sensing circuitry for an Implantable Medical Device (IMD) is disclosed that can be integrated into integrated circuitry in the IMD and draws very little power, thus enabling continuous temperature monitoring without undue battery depletion. Temperature sensor and threshold setting circuitry produces analog voltage signals indicative of a sensed temperature and at least one temperature threshold. Such circuitry employs a Ptat current reference stage and additional stages, which stages contains resistances that are set based on the desired temperature threshold(s) and to set the voltage range of the sensed temperature. These analog voltages are received at temperature threshold detection circuitry, which produces digital signal(s) indicating whether the sensed temperature has passed the temperature threshold(s). The digital signal(s) are then provided to digital circuitry in the IMD, where they can be stored as a function of time for later review, or used to immediately to control IMD operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Emanuel Feldman, Goran N. Marnfeldt
  • Patent number: 9958340
    Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a thermo-sensitive element, a pair of element electrode wires electrically connected to the thermo-sensitive element, a glass sealing body that covers the thermo-sensitive element and part of the pair of the element electrode wires, and a tablet formed with a pair of insertion holes extending in an axial direction thereof, through which the pair of the element electrode wires pass respectively. The glass sealing body includes a sealing part formed so as to extend from an element side end surface thereof located on a side of the thermo-sensitive element toward the thermo-sensitive element, and a sagging part formed in each of the pair of the insertion holes so as to extend integrally from the sealing part. The length of the sagging part in the axial direction being smaller than or equal to 1.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motoki Sato, Tsunenobu Hori
  • Patent number: 9958341
    Abstract: A method can include, in response to a power supply voltage transition, setting a temperature window to a first temperature range by operation of a temperature circuit formed on a semiconductor device. In response to a temperature of the semiconductor device being determined to be outside of the first temperature range, changing the temperature range of the temperature window until the temperature of the semiconductor device is determined to be within the temperature window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: Darryl G. Walker
  • Patent number: 9958342
    Abstract: Provided is a noninvasive measuring method for rapid temperature variation under a DC excitation magnetic field, comprising: (1) positioning ferromagnetic particles at a measured object; (2) applying a DC magnetic field to area of the ferromagnetic particles enabling the ferromagnetic particles to reach saturation magnetization state; (3) obtaining steady temperature T1 of the measured object at room temperature, and calculating initial spontaneous magnetization M1, of the ferromagnetic particles according to the steady temperature T1; (4) detecting amplitude A of a magnetization variation signal of the ferromagnetic particles after temperature of the measured object varies, and calculating temperature T2 after change according to the amplitude A of the magnetization variation signal; and (5) calculating temperature variation ?T=T2-T1 according to the temperature T2 after change and the steady temperature T1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Wenzhong Liu, Pu Zhang, Chuliang Ruan, Wenbiao Xu
  • Patent number: 9958343
    Abstract: Apparatuses and systems for determining a temperature of a targeted subject are disclosed. A temperature sensing system may include an antenna for sensing electromagnetic radiation (e.g., microwaves, etc.) emanating from the source. Based on that electromagnetic radiation, the antenna generates a temperature signal. A switch, which is located at or adjacent to an output of the antenna, receives the temperature signal, as well as a reference signal from a termination. The temperature signal and the reference signal are conveyed along a cable to a signal converter. Signal-altering events that affect the temperature signal as it is conveyed also affect the reference signal. Thus, any error caused by a signal-altering event automatically cancels out. The signal converter measures or otherwise processes the temperature signal and, since there is no need to correct for errors in the temperature signal, the reference signal, and accurately calculates the temperature of the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BRAIN TEMP, INC.
    Inventor: Robert C. Allison
  • Patent number: 9958344
    Abstract: The force-transmitting mechanism (400) includes a parallel-motion guide mechanism with a movable parallel leg (440), a stationary parallel leg, and at least two parallel-guiding members (450), wherein the parallel legs and the parallel-guiding members are connected to each other by flexure pivots and the movable parallel leg is constrained to the stationary parallel leg in guided mobility by the parallel-guiding members. The force-transmitting mechanism further includes a force-transmitting lever (480) which is pivotally supported on a fulcrum pivot (490) arranged on the stationary parallel leg, with a first lever arm (481) having a force-transmitting connection to the movable parallel leg by way of a coupling member (470), and a second lever arm (482) to which a measurement transducer (410) can be attached through a force-transmitting connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
  • Patent number: 9958345
    Abstract: A rotating body non-contact power-feeding device comprises: a power receiving-side substrate with a power receiving-side circuit component mounted thereat, which is fixed to a rotating shaft supported via a bearing and rotates as one with the rotating shaft; and a power transmitting-side substrate with a power transmitting-side circuit component mounted thereat, which is fixed to a holding unit holding the bearing so that a substrate surface thereof faces opposite a substrate surface of the power receiving-side substrate and is connected with a power source, wherein: a power transmitting-side coil is formed with a conductive pattern so as to achieve a flat-plane spiral pattern with a plurality of turns at a substrate surface facing opposite the power receiving-side substrate and the power transmitting-side circuit component is mounted at another substrate surface, at the power transmitting-side substrate that includes a substrate front surface and a substrate back surface, a power receiving-side coil is forme
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuei Ichikawa, Atsuo Soma, Kentarou Miyajima, Kisho Ashida, Makoto Ishii, Motohiro Sasaki, Keisuke Iwaishi, Yuuya Urushihata
  • Patent number: 9958346
    Abstract: Weather sensors and particularly collect weather data by measuring bending and compression stresses in a weather sensor device. The sensors are based upon the principle of bending stresses and the linear variation of stress between the maximum and minimum point. The sensors model deformation of a hollow shaft or rod. The sensors encompass measuring compression, bending, and/or torsional stresses on other cross-sectional shapes using the appropriate relationship for the particular cross-section that finds use in the technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: UNDERSTORY, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander C. Kubicek, Bryan A. Dow, Alexander T. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9958347
    Abstract: A system for assessing the distribution of shear forces at fixation points on a textile-based implant includes a tissue model, a load simulation device, and an analysis system. The tissue model includes an upper surface defining an opening therethrough and a fixation support configured to secure a textile-based implant against the upper surface at a plurality of fixation points defined along a plane of the upper surface. The load simulation device is configured to apply a load to a textile-based implant that is secured to the tissue model. A marker is disposed on the fixation support at one or more of the plurality of fixation points. The analysis system is configured to calculate a shear force vector at each of the fixation points where a marker is disposed in response to the load applied by the load simulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Sofradim Production
    Inventors: Tristan Rene Guy Belzacq, Clément Ordrenneau, Frédéric Laurent Pascal Turquier
  • Patent number: 9958348
    Abstract: A micromechanical pressure sensor device and a corresponding manufacturing method. The micromechanical pressure sensor device includes an ASIC wafer having a front side and a rear side, and a rewiring system, formed on the front side of the ASIC wafer, which includes a plurality of stacked strip conductor levels and insulation layers. The pressure sensor device also includes a MEMS wafer having a front side and a rear side, a first micromechanical functional layer which is formed above the front side of the MEMS wafer, and a second micromechanical functional layer which is formed above the first micromechanical functional layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Classen, Jochen Reinmuth, Arnd Kaelberer
  • Patent number: 9958349
    Abstract: A pressure sensor comprises a deformable membrane deflecting in response to pressure applied, a first stationary electrode, and a second electrode coupled to the deformable membrane, for determining a change in a capacitance between the first and the second electrode in response to the pressure applied. At least one of the first and the second electrode comprises a getter material for collecting gas molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Johannes Schumm, Andreas Reinhard, Thomas Kraehenbuehl, Stefan Thiele, Rene Hummel, Chung-Hsien Lin, Wang Shen Su, Tsung Lin Tang, Chia Min Lin
  • Patent number: 9958350
    Abstract: A pressure-measuring cell having a ceramic measuring membrane and a ceramic counter body, wherein the measuring membrane is joined to the counter body in such a way that a pressure chamber is formed between the measuring membrane and the counter body. The pressure-measuring cell also has a capacitive transducer for detecting a pressure-dependent deformation of the measuring membrane, which capacitive transducer has at least one membrane electrode arranged on the measuring membrane and at least one electrode on the counter body side, wherein according to the invention at least one membrane electrode comprises a titanium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Nils Ponath, Andreas Rossberg
  • Patent number: 9958351
    Abstract: A pressure sensing system provides signals representative of a magnitude of pressure at a selected site. A sensor module includes a first transducer producing a first signal having an associated first response to pressure and strain applied to the sensor module and a second transducer producing a second signal having an associated second response to pressure and strain applied to the sensor module. A calculated pressure, a bending pressure error and a bend-compensated pressure are computed in response to the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Kuhn, Richard J. O'Brien, Jonathan P. Roberts, James D. Reinke, Michael B. Terry, Kamal Deep Mothilal
  • Patent number: 9958352
    Abstract: The invention is a pressure-measuring cell comprising a measuring cell body, a measuring membrane arranged on the front face of the measuring cell body by means of a joining structure, wherein the measuring cell body and the measuring membrane each have at least one measuring electrode, which electrodes form a measuring capacitor, and at least one support element provided on the measuring membrane and/or the measuring cell body within the joining structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
    Inventor: Jörn Jacob
  • Patent number: 9958353
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for quantification of fluid loss from a nominally closed system using a pressure decay with mass point leak rate analysis methodology, which avoids the need for repetitive testing due to test configuration incompatibilities and allows for real time analysis and test control based upon desired results. The novel apparatus and methods of the present invention utilize a control system to maintain a desired pressure differential across the test article throughout the test by automatically raising or lowering the downstream pressure as the fluid leaks through the test article. In various embodiments, the apparatus and method of the present invention improves the efficiency of existing test methods by shortening otherwise long test durations, right-sizing the amount of data collected, providing quantifiable and controllable measurement uncertainty, reducing statistical variance, and eliminating post-process data analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventor: Christopher Daniels
  • Patent number: 9958354
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for testing one or more layers of a flexible pipe. The method includes the steps of applying a test cycle to a flexible pipe and simultaneously applying the same test cycle to a tubular test layer connected in an in-line configuration with the flexible pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: Richard Clements
  • Patent number: 9958355
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the optical performance characteristics and dimensions of an optical element comprising a low coherence interferometer and a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor comprising a light source, a plurality of lenslets, and a sensor array is disclosed. The low coherence interferometer is configured to direct a measurement beam along a central axis of the optical element, and to measure the thickness of the center of the optical element. The light source of the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is configured to emit a waveform directed parallel to and surrounding the measurement beam of the interferometer, through the plurality of lenslets, and to the sensor array. A method for measuring the optical performance characteristics and dimensions of a lens using the apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Lumetrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Filipp V. Ignatovich, Donald S. Gibson, Michael A. Marcus
  • Patent number: 9958356
    Abstract: In a process for testing the powertrain of vehicles that are at least in part electrically driven, the voltage supplied to the powertrain is controlled by a controller coupled with a simulation system for the energy storage system in a way that the voltage acts dynamically as for a real energy storage system. The controller is designed with a model based controller design method, with a load model of the powertrain being used in the model of the controlled system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: AVL LIST GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver König, Stefan Jakubek, Günter Prochart, Kurt Gschweitl, Gregor Gregorcic
  • Patent number: 9958357
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting irregularities in a rotation of roller bodies in a roller bearing, the apparatus comprising a measurement module and a processor module. The measurement module is operable to provide a deformation signal indicative of a deformation of a surface region of a bearing ring of the roller bearing, wherein the deformation is due to the rotation of the roller bodies over the surface region. The processor module is operable to extract one or more signal quantities of interest from the deformation signal and operable to provide statistical information on the one or more extracted signal quantities of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Allan Thomson, Andreas Clemens Van Der Ham
  • Patent number: 9958358
    Abstract: An imbedded control system is disclosed for use with an engine having a cylinder liner and a seal. The control system may have at least one sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a combustion process occurring inside the cylinder liner, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to determine an amount of heat generated inside the cylinder liner based on the signal and a combustion model of the engine, to determine a heat flux through the engine based on the amount of heat and a heat flux model of the engine, and to determine a temperature at the seal based on the heat flux and a thermal model of the cylinder liner. The controller may also be configured to track a time at the temperature, and to determine a damage count of the seal based on the time at the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Austin Paul Roe, Anthony T. Petrou, Kevin J. D'Sa, Jay H. Cline
  • Patent number: 9958359
    Abstract: A tire performance testing apparatus capable of reproducing conditions in which tire runs on actual road having a pothole, that is, conditions in which tire hits projection after moving in the air. The tire performance testing apparatus includes a tire running surface, a projection installing surface disposed on the front side of the end of the tire running surface in the traveling direction of a vehicle traveling on the tire running surface and positioned lower than the end of the tire running surface, and a projection disposed on the projection installing surface in such a manner as to protrude upward from the projection installing surface. And the distance between the end of the tire running surface and the projection is so set that the tire of a vehicle traveling on the tire running surface hits the projection after getting airborne away from the end of the tire running surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Usami
  • Patent number: 9958360
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to an energy audit device configured for identifying one or more sources of thermal energy loss. In some implementation, the audit device includes one or more processors, a memory coupled to the processors, a location module coupled to the processors, and one or more environmental sensors. In practice, the processors can be configured to perform various operations including: receiving a first set of environmental measurements, receiving a second set of environmental measurements, and identifying one or more thermal energy leaks at a building location based on the first and second sets of environmental measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: OPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Arjun Dasgupta, Brian Preston, Niklas Philipsen, Euan Davidson, Jared Culp, Matt Greenfield
  • Patent number: 9958361
    Abstract: A test device for analyzing fluid samples. The test device includes a planar support member for supporting reagent pads, and a handle attached to, or for attaching to the planar support member. The test device can be treated with a fluid sample by disposing a fluid sample on the reagent pads. The fluid sample can be disposed onto the reagent pads by the handle, or by dipping the test device into the fluid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: Paul William Cotton
  • Patent number: 9958362
    Abstract: A sample preparation device for electron microscopy (EM) that is configured to eliminate user-to-user variations and environment contaminations, which are often present in the conventional method of sample preparation. The device not only provides a means for evenly and reproducibly delivering a fluid or sample to an EM grid, but also provides a means for sealing the EM grid in an air-tight chamber and delivering air-sensitive samples to the EM grid. The platform may comprise readily fabricated glass chips with features integrated to preserve the integrity of the sample grid and to facilitate its extraction. The methods may eliminate the element of user dependent variability and thus improve the throughput, reproducibility and translation of these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: The Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Roper, Nikita Mukhitov, Scott Stagg, John Spear
  • Patent number: 9958363
    Abstract: A method for removing an ionic liquid from an aqueous sample is provided. In some embodiments, the method includes: (a) combining an aqueous sample including an ionic liquid with an ion exchanger composition including an ion exchanger counterion to produce a solution including a fluorous salt of the ionic liquid, where at least one of the ionic liquid and the ion exchanger counterion is fluorinated; (b) contacting the solution with a fluorous affinity material, thereby removing fluorous salt from the solution and producing an aqueous eluate; and (c) collecting the aqueous eluate. In certain embodiments, the method further includes: contacting a cell with an ionic liquid composition to lyse the cell and produce an aqueous sample; and contacting the aqueous sample with a reverse phase substrate, thereby adsorbing proteins and/or lipids of the cell on the substrate. Compositions, kits and systems for practicing the subject methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Phillip Smart, Brooks Bond-Watts, James Alexander Apffel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9958364
    Abstract: An article that can be used for biomaterial capture comprises (a) a porous substrate; and (b) borne on the porous substrate, a polymer comprising interpolymerized units of at least one monomer consisting of (1) at least one monovalent ethylenically unsaturated group, (2) at least one monovalent ligand functional group selected from acidic groups, basic groups other than guanidino, and salts thereof, and (3) a multivalent spacer group that is directly bonded to the monovalent groups so as to link at least one ethylenically unsaturated group and at least one ligand functional group by a chain of at least six catenated atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jerald K. Rasmussen, Catherine A. Bothof, George W. Griesgraber, Semra Colak Atan, James I. Hembre, Robert T. Fitzsimons, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9958365
    Abstract: A method for determining material parameters includes applying a character grid over a planar sample, clamping the planar sample in a frame in accordance with directions of orthotropy of the planar sample; collecting a first set of data that describes a first position of the character grid; applying predetermined normal and shear stresses to the planar sample thereby bringing the planar sample into a deformed state and changing the position of the character grid; collecting a second set of data that describes a second position of the character grid, determining a relative position change of the character grid by correlating the collected first set of data and the second set of data; determining a relative displacement and a current distortion state of the planar sample; determining a deformation equilibrium of the deformed state of the planar sample; and calculating the material parameters from the deformation equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE
    Inventors: Kai Heinlein, Arnold Mager, Rosemarie Wagner
  • Patent number: 9958366
    Abstract: A stone impact simulator is provided. That stone impact simulator includes a projectile propulsion section to propel a projectile toward a test sample and a projectile capture section to capture the projectile after the projectile ricochets off of the test sample. The projectile capture section includes a rebound block, a spent projectile storage compartment and a projectile energy dissipation element between the rebound block and the spent projectile storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roman Surowiec, Edward J. Stadler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9958367
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring rheological parameters of a multi-phase fluid is provided. The apparatus includes a static chamber containing a multi-phase fluid having at least a first phase and a second phase. The apparatus also includes a rotor member submersed in the multiphase fluid in the static chamber. The rotor member includes a first set of threads formed on a first portion of the rotor member submersed in the first phase of the multi-phase fluid and a second set of threads formed on a second portion of the rotor member submersed in the second phase of the multi-phase fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS
    Inventors: Jitendra Sangwai, Chirag Khalde
  • Patent number: 9958368
    Abstract: A rotary rheometer is disclosed that includes improved control logic. This logic can provide continuously sampled force control logic, compliance control logic, adaptive control logic, anti-windup logic, and/or inertial correction logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Malvern Instruments Limited
    Inventors: John Paul Wilkinson, Ian Pearson
  • Patent number: 9958369
    Abstract: A method for determining the diffusion of one or more components, the method includes the steps of (i) providing a component fluid flow having one or more components; (ii) providing a blank fluid flow; (iii) bringing the flow (i) into contact with the flow (ii) in a large cross section channel, thereby to generate two laminar flows; (iv) permitting the laminar flows generated in (iii) to flow from the large cross section channel into a small cross section channel; measuring the lateral diffusion of the one or more components from the component flow into the blank fluid flow in the small cross section channel. Also provided is a diffusion method having the steps of measuring the lateral diffusion of the one or more components from the component flow into the blank fluid flow at a plurality of diffusion times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Cambridge Enterprise Limited
    Inventors: Samuel Cohen, Tuomas Knowles, Christopher Dobson, Luke Rajah, Duncan White
  • Patent number: 9958370
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for measuring the diffusion performance of an acid dye in a color paste, comprising preparing a primary paste and placing the primary paste into a transparent cylindrical container; adding a dye to the primary paste formulate a color paste, and flatly and uniformly paving a layer of the color paste on an upper surface of the primary paste; performing constant-temperature treatment at 60-95° C. on the cylindrical container, so that the dye in the color paste on the top of the blank primary paste in the cylindrical container diffuses downwards to the bottom of the cylinder; and sampling the primary paste from a sampling hole, and diluting the sampled primary paste with deionized water. The method of the invention has simple operation steps, reliable and safe experiments, highly stable test data and good reproducibility of results, and high temperature and high pressure are not required herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: NANTONG TEXTILE & SILK INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jiajie Long, Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 9958371
    Abstract: A method and system of measuring the size distribution of particles within dilute colloids, for example, through variation of the minimum detected size of aerosolized colloid particles. The method of determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, involves forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, evaporating the droplets to generate particles, and measuring the concentration of particles by varying a detection threshold. A system or apparatus for determining the size distribution of particles in a fluid, includes a droplet former for forming a stream of aerosol droplets of the fluid, the droplets containing particles and dissolved material, and a condensation particle detector for evaporating the droplets to generate particles and for measuring the concentration of particles, the condensation particle detector having a variable detection threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Fluid Measurement Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Blackford, Derek Oberreit, Donald C. Grant, Gary Van Schooneveld, Mark R. Litchy